Automobile seat inflation device



Nov. 15,1938. G. B. JENSEN I 2,136,510

AUTOMOBILE SEAT INFLATION DEVICE Filed Sept. 23, 1.936

. ATTORNEYS WITNESS Patented Nov. 15, 1938 UNITED Y STAT ES PATENT OFFICE 1 AUTOMOBILE SEAT INFLATION DEVICE Gustav B. J ensen, West Palm Beach, Fla. Application September 23, 1936, Serial No. 102,209

2 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates generally to pneumatic seat cushions, back rests and the like, and an important object is to provide a pneumatic seat cushion for a motor vehicle and a valve device i for inflating and deflating the same.

A further object is to provide a deflating device to whichcan be applied an air hose of the usual construction for inflating a pneumatic seat cushion, and the device is readily operable for releasing the air therefrom, so that the air pressure within the cushion can be varied in accordance with the users desires.

Another object is to provide a pneumatic seat cushion or the like, that is divided into a plurality of independent cells or compartments, each being inflatable and defiatable, so that the seat can be retained in a shape to effect utmost comfort to a person when in use.

With these and other objects in View, this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure '1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating a motor vehicle seat cushion provided with air cells and shows the valve device with means of communication between the same and the cells, in elevation.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View taken through my valve device.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure l. a

Figure 4 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 44 of Figure 3. a

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the parts of the main inflating valve of this invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral l indicates a fragmentary portion of a seat frame of a motor vehicle on which is located a pneu-- matic seat 2 consisting of a covering 2' in which is located an inflatable inner tube or body 3. A portion of the covering 2' is removable, as indicated at 3', to permit the inner tube or body to be readily placed in the covering 2. Also the frame I has an opening 4 directly under the removable portion 3 of the covering. The inner tube or body 3 is divided into a plurality of cells A by integrally connected transversely and longitudinally extending partitions 5, said partitions also being integrally connected with the walls of the inner tube or body. Connected to the cells are inflating tubes 5. Said tubes extend through openings in the removable portion 3' of the covering and also through the opening 4 of the seat frame. Said tubes have connected thereto self-closing valves 6 equipped with collars I and clamping nuts 8. The self-closing valves 6 are similarly constructed to the valves employed in inner tubes of pneumatic tires and are mounted in openings formed in one wall of an airtight casing 9. The valves 6 are clamped to said walls of the casing by the collars l and nuts 8, suitable gaskets l0 being interposed between the wall of the casing and the nuts to establish air tight connection between the valves and the casing. The casing may be of any suitable size and is carried by a support H and located adjacent the seatv frame where it will be readily accessible. The front wall of the casing is detachable and is provided with a gasket 1 to establish an eiiective seal between said casing and the front wall thereof when the latter is applied to the casing. The front wall has an opening to receive a main inflating valve [3 of a self-closing type. Secured to the front wall within the casing is a block l4 having a square opening IE to fit the squared portion I6 of the valve 13. A flange H is formed on the valve l3 and forms a seat for a plate I 8 secured to the valve and arranged in the casing for carrying projections H! to engage the valves 6 for opening or unseating said valves. A gasket 20 is positioned on the valve l3 between the flange I1 and the block 14 so that when the flange I1 is drawn tightly against said block an air tight fit will be provided between the valve and the block. A nut 2! is threaded on the valve [3 for drawing the flange l1 and gasket 20 tightly against the block 14. The nut 2| is grooved, as shown at 22, to be engaged by clips 23 secured to the front wall of the casing. The clips permit the nut 2| to rotate freely, however, the nut is held by the clips against endwise movement on the valve so that when the nut is rotated the valve is caused to move endwise to engage and disengage the projections with the valves 6. The external face of the valve l3 has a groove 24 which is closed to the interior of the casing when the flange I1 is drawn against the block l4. However, when the valve I3 is moved endwise for the purpose of engaging the projections 19 with the valves 6 for opening the latter, the groove 24 comes into communication with the interior of the casing for the purpose of bleeding the latter.

Normally the flange ll of the valve is drawn tightly against the block l4 and to inflate the cells 4 simultaneously an air supply medium is applied to the valve l3 similar to the inflation of a pneumatic tire. When it is desired to deflate or lower the air pressure in the cells, the nut 2| is adjusted to move the valve l3 endwise and thereby bring about unseating of the valves 6 and the opening of the groove 24.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1 An inflating device comprising an air tight casing, a plurality of self-closing valves secured to and in communication with the interior of said casing and adapted for connection with tubes from compartments to be inflated, a block secured to the casing and having a rectangular shaped opening, a main inflation valve having a rectangular shaped body portion fitting in the opening of the block for reciprocation therein and extending exteriorly of the casing, a gasketed flange on the body of the main valve to abut the block and establish an air tight connection between the main valve body and the block, a nut threaded to the main valve body and journaled to the casing for the purpose of imparting endwise movement to the main valve body for engaging and disengaging the flange with the block, said main valve body having a bleed groove providing communication between the interior of the casing and the atmosphere, and closed by the flange abutting the block and means carried by the main valve body for unseating the first named valves upon reciprocation of said main valve body.

2. An inflating device comprising an air tight casing, a plurality of self-closing valves secured to and in communication with the interior of said casing and adapted for connection with tubes from compartments to be inflated, a block secured to the casing and having a rectangular shaped opening, a main inflation valve having a rectangular shaped body portion fitting in the opening of the block for reciprocation therein and extending exteriorly of the casing, a gasketed flange on the body of the main valve to abut the block and establish an air tight connection between the main valve body and the block, a nut threaded to the main valve body and journaled to the casing for the purpose of imparting endwise movement to the main valve body for engaging and disengaging the flange with the block, said main valve body having a bleed groove providing communication between the interior of the casing and the atmosphere, and closed by the flange abutting the block, a plate secured to the main valve body, and projections formed on said plate to engage the first named valves for unseating the latter by endwise movement of the main valve body for the purpose of bleeding the compartments of air.

GUSTAV B. JENSEN. 

